6 JUNE 2024

GUADALUPE CANALE, ENVIRONMENTAL ANTHROPOLOGIST

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Guadalupe Canale, who stayed in Arnisdale while studying seaweeds gave a very informative and interesting talk in the Glenelg Hall about the many interesting things about seaweed on our shores. She then led a fascinating walk at low tide to look at some examples. This event launched our project and we had a great turnout of young and old who learned lots of interesting facts and had a great afternoon. Guada was instrumental in obtaining the funding from the Highlands and Islands Environment Foundation (HIEF).

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Some interesting things you may not know about seaweed...

Seaweed is not a plant! They may look like plants but seaweed is a type of algae, a group of photosynthetic organisms. There are over 12,000 species, varying in colour, shape, and size. Some are soft and fleshy, while others are hard like rock.

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Seaweed produces a lot of oxygen: Seaweed and other microscopic algae are responsible for a large portion of the world's oxygen production, with estimates ranging from 50% to 80%.

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Seaweed is used in various industries, including food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and even as a binding agent in products like toothpaste and jelly.

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Seaweed can grow very quickly: some types of seaweed, like kelp, can grow extremely rapidly, with giant kelp potentially growing a metre a day.

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Seaweed is vital for the environment, providing food and habitat for many marine organisms. It also absorbs carbon dioxide from the water helping to combat ocean acidification and potentially contribute to climate change mitigation.